Volunteers

Pam ‘Disco’ Gordon

Chair of PTA

St Andrews Mum of Beth in 4J. I work full time but often from home as a business consultant (specialist in franchising – yawn!), so often running around for meetings but this does give me the flexibility of being able to be involved with the PTA. I can’t help out in the classrooms so this is my way of giving back.

I got involved with the PTA as a volunteer as I’m nosy and also wanted to know what was going on in the school. My PTA ‘gateway’ event was the discos and I’ve been involved ever since. It’s been great to meet people across the school community and be part of fun events that ultimately raise funds to benefit our children.

My PTA goals – more volunteers and use the skills in the school community for the PTA and other projects. Another grown-up fundraising event in the calendar (disco…)

Emma Kirkpatrick

Treasurer

I have Holly in Year 2 and Joseph in Reception. When the kids are at school I am an accountant and get to have cups of tea in peace in an office in central Brighton or at home when I work from there.

I am Treasurer for the PTA and so you probably see my name a lot and think I’m involved in every event but often I’m just reporting the figures and can’t claim credit for the success of the event.

Sometimes I help with the organisation of events but can’t help on the day and sometimes it works the other way around. It all depends on my work load at particular times of the year. Last year my input varied from hiding Easter eggs all over the school, delivering ice lollies to classes after sports days to organising the summer fair raffle.

Sharon Hartnell

Secretary

Karen Phillips

Volunteer

Hey, my name is Kaz and lucky mum of two gorgeous girls, Rosie in 1M and Poppy who starts reception in September. I work for David Lewis Wealth Management on Portland road three school days a week, I’m generally seen dashing around Hove on my bike, or getting my dress caught in the bike chain.

I started attending the PTA meetings about 6 months ago to have a nosey, meet the headmaster / senior team and maybe offer up some support. I was expecting a hall full of parents squished into children’s chairs and teachers lined up on the stage, but nothing could have been further from the truth! We meet in the staff room, generally there are less than 10 people, everyone who wants to can have a voice, share ideas and make plans for raising money for the school.

The two things I really enjoy about supporting the PTA is that our efforts and all the money raised really makes a different to our kids, every penny is carefully allocated to things that will support our children’s learning and enjoyment – from a new stage to class funds to sports day sashes! Secondly, I’ve met some super talented and lovely parents, we all have a common cause, but part of the fun is developing new friendships along the way.

So my initial intention of offering some support to an event ended up as a brand new event! Our 1st wreath making evening organised with Cara, it exceeded expectations for generating funds and we hope everyone liked it as much as we loved the results!

The PTA for me is an evening with a whole variety of talented people, and of course the glass of wine at the Urchin afterwards makes it a night out!

Matt Costello

Volunteer & IT

I have a daughter in year 1. I run my own IT company, helping small businesses get online, so am very lucky that my working life is flexible, allowing me to get involved with the PTA (including creating this website) & get out on my paddle board as much as possible!

I have volunteered for many of the events & seen first hand what the PTA can achieve in terms of fundraising & the things that we, as parents, have raised money for (school mini bus, climbing wall & new stage in the big hall to name a few).

We desperately need more people to help out at these events so join the volunteers mailing list, even if it’s only a couple of hours a year, it all helps our kids.

Lindsay Hannigan

Volunteer

I’m a St Andrews Mum and run two businesses, Property Investing and IT. My youngest, Nick is in year 5, and my eldest also attended St Andrews and is now at BHASVIC. My twin sister and I also attended St Andrews many years ago for a few months! I’m also an aspiring 5k runner!

Due to running my own business, I can’t make many of the PTA meetings but I volunteer at the Summer Fair, Christmas Present Shopping and helped organise the Christmas Craft event. As I’m not often at pick up, volunteering for the PTA has been a lovely way to meet other St Andrews parents and feel a bit more part of the community.

Dan May-Jones

Volunteer & Quiz Night King

I got involved with the PTA when my eldest child was in year 1. He’s now in his second year of secondary school and my youngest is in year six, so this is my final year! I chaired the PTA team for four years and mostly loved every minute of it! These days I do much less, but still run the infamous quiz night, which has always been my favourite event of the year!

Most parents probably don’t realise just how much our kids benefit from the PTA – the ipads the kids use in school, the brand new mini bus, the stage and sound equipment, the samba band, the sports kits, the ice lollies at sports day, the Eggs at Easter, none of that would happen without the PTA fundraising. It really does impact on the quality of school life!

My only regret, is that more people don’t get involved. We have over 400 families in our wonderful school, yet most meetings we have about 10 parents, and most recently we’ve started cancelling events because of a lack of help. Not everyone wants to attend a committee, we get that, but if every one could spare an hour, once a year, we could easily double the amount of money raised – and that all gets spent on YOUR children!

Steph Kenton

Volunteer

I was pretty wary of going to PTA meetings at the beginning. I felt I didn’t have much to offer in the way of useful skills or brilliant ideas and I’m much more comfortable ‘behind the scenes’ so at first I just listened and got to understand a bit more about what the PTA did and what a difference the funds it raises makes to the day to day life in school. I didn’t contribute anything much at first and then I started volunteering for a few things that I felt able to do. Over the last couple of years I’ve poured gallons of squash, helped out at cake sales, folded raffle tickets and played at being an Easter Bunny and a Christmas Elf. Really nothing too taxing or time consuming! And you’re never on your own. There’s always a few friendly faces to work with, get to know and have a chat with.

It’s been brilliant to see some tangible results from the efforts everyone in the school has put in. The playground markings, the minibus and the new stage; we wouldn’t have these fantastic assets to school life without everyone pulling together..

Zoe Bailey

Volunteer

Ok..I’m not what people expect when they think of the PTA. I’m Zoe and I started doing my bit for the PTA 14 years ago when my first child started the school. Since then 3 more kids have joined St Andrews and my last is now in year 5. Over the years I’ve made great friends and seen so much delight from kids , parents and teachers who have benefited from the PTA.

I’ve always said if everyone could contribute an hour a year to attend a meeting, serve squash, man a stall, wrap a gift, give out ice lollies we would be inundated with help.
Truth is they’re our kids and we have a wonderful opportunity to give back.

St Andrews PTA has always been hugely successful and well supported but without those volunteered hours it can’t work.

YOU have something to offer and YOU can make a difference. There isn’t a typical PTA type …just someone who is willing to help. By helping your kid you help all the kids. I’m winding down my PTA hours after so many years but I will always support.

We’re all busy but even if you only manage it once I would urge you to do something..it isn’t always up to someone else. X

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